SOUTHWEST ASIA, - Each night they don their uniform; a collared shirt, khaki pants or jeans and shoes, before heading downtown for another day of work in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
The team, covering all aspects of the U.S. Air Force - active duty, Reserve and Guard - isn't part of the Office of Special Investigations. This civilian-clothed team, better known as the "Guardians of the U.S. mail" has a special mission overseeing U.S. postal operations at a major international airport in Southwest Asia.
"One of the biggest morale-boosters for deployed members is receiving mail from loved ones," said Tech. Sgt. Cornelious Barnett of the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron mail control activity section, deployed from the 72nd Aerial Port Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. "It's our job to ensure the mail gets in country and to the neighboring military installations in this region in a safe and orderly manner."
Barnett works the "graveyard shift" alongside Tech. Sgt. Monique Evans of the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard, and Senior Airman David Rudin of Detachment 2, Yokota Air Base, Japan, six days a week.
Each member of the team plays a critical role in the mail mission, but ultimately they ensure the mail gets to and from the airport's distribution center on time and undamaged.
"We monitor the weights and ensure the mail remains undamaged due to inclement weather," said Barnett, a 17-year Air Force Reserve veteran. "In addition, we keep in close communication with the drivers who transport the mail from the [joint military mail terminal located at a nearly military installation to the airport] as well as provide adequate accommodations when entering the yard at the airport."
Rudin, the only team member assigned to the postal career field as Barnett and Evans are filling augmentee positions, said that while his job here is different from what he's used to doing at home station, he and the other team members picked up the process quickly, which runs pretty smooth.
"It's different working on the airport side of the transportation for postal as opposed to back at Yokota where I work in the aerial mail terminal sorting mail from the trucks that come in," Rudin said. "It's a nice change of pace though. I like being able to interact with the locals who all seem to be very friendly and our team gets along well."
Rudin said the team's mission usually starts when the truck drivers contact them prior to their arrival to inform them of the amount of mail the team will be shipping out that night.
"When they get here, we work with the mail agent and they unload the trucks for us with their forklift," he said. "We weigh it and the contractors then load it onto a dolly to be taken out to the aircraft."
From there, the team takes the weight and pallet numbers and creates documents to go out with the mail, much like a plane ticket.
"They pretty much take care of the rest until the plane comes and then we just wait on the incoming mail to be put back on the trucks to be processed and distributed to the various installations in the region," he said.
Evans, a personnelist by trade and an elementary school teacher in her civilian job, said her experience here working the mail mission the last three months has been a welcome challenge.
"Being augmented into this position and never having worked postal before it has definitely been a learning experience and an eye-opener," said the 386th ECS mail control activity nighttime supervisor, who handles the majority of the administrative side of the mission; documenting the pallets, their weights, tracking where the pallets are heading and making sure they are received. "This being my first deployment and working a mission outside of my career field, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it has been great. We have an awesome team and we work very well together. I'm glad I volunteered to do this."
Barnett and Rudin said they both learned a few lessons working the mail mission together over the past six months here.
"Communication is critical in this job," said Barnett. "The communication barriers can be challenging at times working with people from other nations who speak different languages and are from different cultures. You really just have to be open-minded and get to know those who you work alongside. I'm pretty outgoing myself and somewhat of a people-person, so this experience is really great for me."
Rudin added that in addition to good communication, there are a few additional qualities needed to be successful in the postal mission here.
"Patience and attention to detail are important," he said. "There is a lot that goes on here, so you really need to stay on top of things."
With just a few weeks left in the AOR, the team said that while they have enjoyed their time downrange, they are excited about turning over the reins of the mail mission and getting back home.
"I think working away from an actual military installation and in civilian clothes might help a little with the culture shock they say comes with returning home," said Evans. "But no matter where you deploy or for how long, I think everyone looks forward to getting back home to their family and friends."